Selangor bans self-enforcement in land disputes involving places of worship

THE Selangor government has prohibited any form of self-enforcement in cases of alleged land encroachment, including the construction of places of worship without approval, following an incident in Rawang that sparked public concern.

Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari said all disputes relating to land must be handled strictly through the courts in accordance with existing legislation, including the National Land Code and related land laws.

“All parties are not allowed to take action on their own without going through the court process. This is based on the National Land Code and laws related to land,” he said in a statement after chairing a Selangor State Security Council meeting.

The meeting was attended by the Selangor police chief, the commander of the 11th Brigade, local council presidents and district officers to assess the state’s public security situation.

Police are currently investigating the Rawang incident, with any further action to proceed through proper legal channels.

Amirudin explained that two principal categories of unauthorised places of worship have been identified in Selangor: those built on state-owned land and those constructed on privately owned land.

For structures occupying state land, he has directed that existing procedures be strengthened, including enhancements to the standard operating procedures of the LIMAS Committee, and better coordination at the level of local authorities.

In cases involving private land, he said the current process requires the landowner to appoint legal counsel and obtain a court order before any eviction or demolition can be carried out.

Taking security considerations into account, the State Security Council has also decided that any landowner who discovers encroachment must lodge a police report to enable investigations and potential prosecution if offences are established.

In addition, formal notice must be served on the encroaching party and the matter officially reported to the relevant District Office.

District Security Committees, chaired by district officers, have been activated across Selangor to act as intermediaries.

These committees will convene all relevant parties, including landowners, representatives of the place of worship, the police and local authorities, in an effort to reach a reasonable resolution.

Should negotiations fail, the committees will advise landowners to proceed with court action.

Amirudin stressed that the approach is intended to ensure that every issue is addressed through lawful and institutional channels, thereby preventing incidents that could inflame racial or religious sensitivities and undermine the state’s harmony. - February 13, 2026